Tiretta Bazaar also known as Kolkata’s Mini Chinatown, is a blend of Indo-Chinese culture. The bazaar is the only Chinatown in India. Kolkata has been home to the Chinese since the early 19th century. Tiretta Bazaar is one of the most visited places in Kolkata. It’s a significant food hub amongst the locals and the tourists. The bazaar is full of sumptuous food and wafting aromas of lip-smacking food.
Immigration of Chinese refugees to India dates back to the early 18th century. The first immigration recorded was of Hakkas in the year 1837. The Chinese immigrants originally worked in the leather and tanning industry as there was a huge demand for them. Later they segregated choosing different professions. Today Kolkata is home to over 2,000 Indo-Chinese people, their main occupation is working in restaurants or stalls as cooks.
What to Expect in Tiretta Bazaar
Street Food
SourceTiretta Bazaar is absolute heaven for foodies, the food sold here is a blend of Chinese, Cantonese and Bengali flavours. The Bazaar is very famous for its absolute mouthwatering delicacies. Tiretta Bazaar serves simple yet complex varieties of food which will make you smile with satisfaction. The most famous dishes sold here are dumplings, which are either fried or steamed as per your preference served with a hot bowl of lip-smacking soup. Pork sausages, hot noodle soup, pies, bao, pork fillets and spring rolls are some authentic Chinese dishes you can find in Tiretta Bazaar. If you are looking for an absolutely filling and delicious breakfast then TirettaBazaar is the place for you.
Tiretta Bazaar is not only about mouth-watering food, it tells us lots of stories and teaches us about the beautiful culture and heritage of Indian Chinese origin people. The bazaar is a home for many Chinese temples where the Indo-Chinese people of Kolkata gather to offer their prayers. Nam Soon temple is the oldest temple in Chinatown dating back to the 1820s. Tong Achi church, Sea Voi Yune Leong Futh Church dates back to the early 20th century. Choonghee Dong Thien Haue Church and the Gee Hing Church are some other temples in Tiretta Bazaar dating back to the 19th century.
Local Market
SourceTiretta Bazaar is the best place in the city to buy fresh produce. The bazaar is famous for selling fresh meat and seafood. Sun Yat-Sen street is the best place to buy the day’s fresh catch, vegetables and a huge variety of mushrooms.
Stores To Visit At The Bazaar
Hap Hing
Source Hap Hing store sells a wide variety of items like homemade sauces, rice noodles, tea, dried fruits and medicinal plants. The locals say that Hap Hing is the oldest store in Chinatown. It opens at 6:00 AM and closes at 10:00 PM.
Pou Chong
SourcePou Chong is one of the must-visit stores in Chinatown. The shop sells a wide variety of sauces, each one of a different flavour, colour and consistency. Pou Chong is the shop of Pou Chong Brothers who are known to be the oldest Chinese sauce manufacturing company in India.
How To Reach Tiretta Bazaar
Tiretta Bazaar is located in Tangar, Kolkata. Poddar Court Bus Stop and Laal Bazaar bus stop are the closest bus stops near Tiretta Bazaar located at a distance of 500m and 1.2 km each. The nearest railway stations to the bazaar are B.B.D Bagh station and Central Metro Station located at a distance of 2.3 km and 800 m. To travel within the city metros, ferries, trams, buses,
rickshaws and taxis are available. The closest airport to Tiretta Bazaar is Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport located at a distance of 14.8 km.
